Utah Tech University

As part of Dixie State University's Give Kids a Smile event, students and staff from DSU's Department of Dental Hygiene recently teamed up with local dentists to address the dental needs of children throughout the Washington Country region during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, students from DSU's Spanish Program donated their time and translation support as needed throughout the event. To help make children's smiles a little brighter, more than $13,600 in donated services including exams, X-rays, fillings, extractions, sealants and fluoride were administered free of charge to 47 children within the community who could not be covered by insurance or Medicaid. Additionally, local dentists from around the St. George community donated $38,292 in dental vouchers to 25 children with more extensive treatment needs.

Utah Tech students opted for an alternative spring break last week, traveling to New Orleans for a service trip where they got to aid in a park clean-up, a garden restoration and event preparation in partnership with Swift Hands. The group of 15 participating students saw the trip as an opportunity to serve a community together while creating lasting memories. The Utah Tech Student Association service branch organized the trip in collaboration with Camp Hope and Swift Hands, allowing students to support multiple local initiatives during their stay. On the first full day of the trip, students helped de-litter and beautify a local park, ultimately protecting wildlife habitats. The second day, the team partnered with a local plant restoration organization to help plant trees and the last day concluded with helping a community garden to grow fresh produce. Outside of service work, students experienced the city's culture, including a swamp tour to observe Louisiana wildlife and visits to Bourbon Street, which is well known for its music scene. Each year, UTSA organizes two to three alternative breaks trips, giving students opportunities to travel, serve communities and earn service hours.

Trailblazer Sydney Anderson is passionate about volunteering in the community, and she is hopeful that by doing so, it may increase her chances of being accepted into DSU's Nursing Program. In an effort to serve the community and better her chances of having her application accepted, Sydney spent much of her college semester at a local non-profit animal rescue organization, P.A.W.S., as she prepared to apply to nursing school. Sydney has volunteered for three semesters now, accumulating about 75 hours in service commitments.

As part of Dixie State University's "active learning. active life." approach to education, many DSU students participated in the Alternative Breaks opportunity during Spring Break by giving back to the St. George community. The Alternative Breaks program, which functions under the Student Association's Service Branch, provides service opportunities during school breaks for students who want to give back to local and global communities. In lieu of traveling this year for Spring Break, 23 DSU students chose to give back to the community in a safe and fun way by improving the St. George area through landscaping, gardening and picking up trash.

As part of her social impact initiative, Miss Dixie State University partnered with the Dixie State University Student Association service branch to make comfort items for children in area hospitals and other health-focused agencies. The created items - including 300 activity kits, 46 fleece blankets, 30 courage capes and 264 handwritten letters - were delivered throughout the week to Dixie Regional Medical Center, Dixie Pediatrics, Canyonland Pediatrics, Imagine Pediatrics, St. George Kids Dental Snow Canyon, Root for Kids and the DOVE Center.